EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: July 9, 2012.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-61900U; and amending WAC 232-28-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The department is in the process of adopting permanent rules that are necessary to implement the personal-use fishing plans agreed to with resource comanagers at the North of Falcon proceedings. These emergency rules are necessary to comply with agreed-to management plans. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 6, 2012.
Lori Preuss
for Philip Anderson
Director
1. Cowlitz River (Lewis County):
From Lexington Bridge Drive in Kelso upstream to the Highway 505 Bridge in Toledo: All Species: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing.
2. Klickitat River (Klickitat County):
From mouth to Fisher Hill Bridge: When anti-snagging rule is in effect, only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
3. Lewis River (Clark County):
From railroad bridge near Kuhnis Road upstream to mouth of East Fork Lewis: Anglers in possession of a valid two pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing.
4. Lewis River, North Fork (Clark/Skamania counties):
From mouth to Johnson Creek: Anglers in possession of a valid two-pole endorsement may use up to two lines while fishing.
5. Wind River (Skamania County):
From mouth to 400 feet below Shipherd Falls: Salmon and Steelhead: Open immediately through July 31. Fishing for trout (except hatchery steelhead) is closed.
6. White Salmon River (Klickitat/Skamania counties):
a) From county road bridge below powerhouse to Northwestern Lake Road Bridge: Closed waters.
b) From Northwestern Lake Road Bridge to 400 feet below Big Brother's Falls at River Mile 16: Closed waters from Big Brother's Falls downstream 400 feet. All game fish: Effective immediately, catch and release only, except up to 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained. Selective gear rules in effect.
7. Okanogan River (Okanogan County):
Salmon: Open until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook. Effective immediately through October 15, release all Chinook and sockeye with external floy tags and/or with one or more holes (round, approximately 1/4-inch diameter) punched in the caudal (tail) fin.
8. Similkameen River (Okanogan County):
From the mouth to Enloe Dam: Salmon: Open until further notice. Daily limit 6 Chinook and 6 sockeye only. Of the 6 Chinook, no more than 3 may be adult Chinook, and of these 3 adult Chinook, only 1 may be a wild adult Chinook. Effective immediately through October 15, release all Chinook and sockeye with external floy tags and/or with one or more holes (round, approximately 1/4-inch diameter) punched in the caudal (tail) fin.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative
Code is repealed effective July 9, 2012:
| WAC 232-28-61900U | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules -- 2012 North of Falcon eastern Washington rivers and Columbia River. (12-127) |